The booke of common prayer, and administration of the sacraments and other rites and ceremonies of the Church of England.

The fifth Sunday in Lent.

The Collect.

WE beseech thee almightie God, mercifully to looke vpon thy people, that by thy great goodnesse they may be gouerned and preserued euermore, both in bodie and soule, through Iesus Christ our Lord.

The Epistle.

CHrist beeing an high Priest of good things to come, * 1.1 came by a greater and a more perfect ta∣bernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building, neither by the blood of Goates and calues: but by his owne blood he entred in once into the holy place, and found eternall redemption. For if the blood of Oxen and of Goates, and the ashes of a young Cowe, when it is sprinckled, purifi∣eth the vncleane, as touching the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ (which through the eter∣nall spirit offered himselfe without spot to God) purge your conscience from dead workes, for to serue the liuing God? And for this cause is hee the mediatour of the new Testa∣ment, that through death, which chanced for the redemption of those transgressions that were vnder the first Testament, they which are called, might receiue the promise of eternal in∣heritance.

The Gospel.

WHich of you can rebuke me of sinne? If I say the trueth, * 1.2 why doe yee not beleeue me? He that is of God, heareth Gods words: Ye therfore heare them not, because ye are not of God. Then answered y^e Iewes, and sayd vnto him, Say wee not well that thou art a Samaritane, and hast the deuill? Iesus answe∣red, I haue not the deuill: but I honour my Father, and yee haue dishonoured me. I seeke not mine owne prayse, there is one that seeketh and iudgeth. Verily, verily I say vnto you, If a man keepe my saying, he shal neuer see death. Then sayd the Iewes vnto him, Now we know that thou hast the deuil. A∣braham is dead, and the Prophets, and thou sayest, If a man keepe my saying, he shall neuer tast of death. Art thou grea∣ter then our father Abraham, which is dead? And the Pro∣phets are dead: Whom makest thou thy selfe? Iesus answe∣red, If I honour my selfe, mine honour is nothing: it is my father that honoureth me, which ye say is your God, and yet yee haue not knowen him: but I know him. And if I say I know him not, I shall be alyar like vnto you. But I know him and keepe his saying. Your father Abraham was glad to see my day: and he saw it and reioyced. Then said the Iewes vnto him, Thou art not yet fiftie yeeres old, & half thou seene Abraham? Iesus sayd vnto them, Verily, verily I say vnto you, yer Araham was borne, I am. Then tooke they vp stones to cast at him: but Iesus hid himselfe, and went out of the temple.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Heb. 9.11.
• * 1.2

  Ioh. 8.46.